Walgreens Boots Alliance Strengthens Commitment to Expand Disability Representation
November 10 2022 - 09:00AM
Business Wire
Company Redesigns Annual Incentive to Include a
Disability Representation Metric; Forms Partnership with
Neurodiversity in the Workplace™
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) today announced it
is strengthening its commitment to increasing the representation of
people with disabilities at all levels across the company’s U.S.
segments and redesigning its annual bonus plan in the U.S. to
include a disability representation metric to drive this
commitment. The company will be the first in the S&P 500 to
include disability representation as a separate, standalone metric
within a disclosed incentive plan.
The goal is a core component of the company’s expanded U.S.
health equity performance goal, which focuses on positively
impacting key areas of health and wellbeing, especially for
disproportionally impacted, underserved communities, including
women, people of color and people with disabilities.
“We are very proud of our pioneering leadership in disability
inclusion,” said Holly May, executive vice president and global
chief human resources officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance. “By
increasing our representation of people with disabilities, we are
continuing to unlock a critical talent pipeline, providing
sustainable work to this underrepresented community, and as such
helping to address a number of social determinants of health
including economic instability, social isolation and
unemployment.”
To further support these efforts, the company has formed a
partnership with Neurodiversity in the Workplace™ (NITW), which
designs plans and programs for companies to recruit, attract, hire
and retain neurodiverse talent. The first cohort is expected to
begin work at WBA’s global support office in Deerfield, Ill., in
early 2023.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employees with
disabilities are three times more likely than employees without
disabilities to be unemployed. Additionally, a recent report from
the Center for American Progress found that nearly 14 million
people with disabilities would have been working in 2021 if they
were employed at the same rate as those without a disability.
"Recognizing and removing the barriers that neurodivergent job
seekers and employees face creates a stronger, more inclusive
workforce," said Joseph Riddle, director, Neurodiversity in the
Workplace. “For years, Walgreens has been an industry-leader in
hiring disabled people, and we are proud to continue that work with
them via this partnership.”
These new initiatives build upon Walgreens long-standing
commitment to hiring people with disabilities and complements the
company’s existing and industry-leading retail and distribution
center programs – Retail Employees with Disabilities Initiative
(REDI) and the Transitional Work Group (TWG) program. The REDI
program began in Dallas, Texas in 2010 and expanded nationally in
2012. TWG began in 2007 at a Walgreens distribution center in
Anderson, S.C., has since expanded to 12 Walgreens distribution
centers and is now being implemented across Walgreens
microfulfillment centers.
About Walgreens Boots Alliance
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is an integrated
healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader serving millions of
customers and patients every day, with a 170-year heritage of
caring for communities.
A trusted, global innovator in retail pharmacy with
approximately 13,000 locations across the U.S., Europe and Latin
America, WBA plays a critical role in the healthcare ecosystem. The
company is reimagining local healthcare and well-being for all as
part of its purpose – to create more joyful lives through better
health. Through dispensing medicines, improving access to a wide
range of health services, providing high quality health and beauty
products and offering anytime, anywhere convenience across its
digital platforms, WBA is shaping the future of healthcare.
WBA employs more than 325,000 people and has a presence in nine
countries through its portfolio of consumer brands: Walgreens,
Boots, Duane Reade, the No7 Beauty Company, Benavides in Mexico and
Ahumada in Chile. Additionally, WBA has a portfolio of
healthcare-focused investments located in several countries,
including China and the U.S.
The company is proud of its contributions to healthy
communities, a healthy planet, an inclusive workplace and a
sustainable marketplace. WBA has been recognized for its commitment
to operating sustainably: the company is an index component of the
Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) and was named to the 100
Best Corporate Citizens 2022.
More company information is available at
www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.
(WBA-GEN)
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221110005431/en/
WBA Media Relations Candace Johnson
Candace.Johnson@wba.com
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